The fans have spoken. The final tally on who will start in the 2014 NBA All-Star game is all wrapped up and some of the decisions make you want to go to these fans’ houses and throw their computer off a parking garage.
Golden State’s Stephen Curry, Minnesota’s Kevin love, Cleveland’s Kyrie Irving, and Indiana’s Paul George were selected as first-time starters for their conferences. A couple of those names are long overdue.
The overall votes are rather telling.
Western Conference
Kevin Durant – Thunder – 1,396,294
Stephen Curry – Warriors – 1,047,281
Kobe Bryant – Lakers – 988,884
Blake Griffin – Clippers – 688,466
Kevin Love – Timberwolves – 661,246
Eastern Conference
LeBron James – Heat – 1,416,419
Paul George – Pacers – 1,211,318
Carmelo Anthony – Knicks – 935,702
Dwyane Wade – Heat – 929,542
Kyrie Irving – Cavaliers – 860,221
The Good
Stephen Curry was the highest scoring player snubbed during last season’s All-Star voting, but his 23.5 PPG, 9.2 APG, and 4.6 RPG gave him the highest voting among the Western backcourt. Curry’s fans gave him a late push in voting that sent him past the Clippers’ Chris Paul, surprisingly.
Kevin Love, a double-double machine, getting the nod over Dwight Howard was the right call. The voting either shows that the fans are finally waking up or they just really dislike Howard more than ever.
Indiana getting their first All-Star since Jermaine O’Neal — remember that guy? — when Paul George was voted as a starter on Thursday.
Lebron James and Kevin Durant are the two best players in the league, so obviously the fans took notice by giving them the highest votes.
The Bad
Kyrie Irving is definitely an All-Star but he is NOT as good or more deserving than the Wizards’ John Wall. I’m not just saying that because I’m doing the Dougie as we speak. Irving only slightly averages more points than Wall (Irving 21.7 PPG to Wall’s 20.2 PPG) despite averaging more shots per game. But that is all Irving has on Wall. Wall’s 8.5 APG is better than Irving’s 6.1 APG. As a point guard for both of their teams, that is a huge deal. Wall also, averages more rebounds and steals, not to mention his team is better than Irving’s Cavs. Fans need to put less focus on commercials and more on performance.
The Blazers’ Lamarcus Aldridge inexplicably not being a starter is a joke. His team at 32-11 has the fourth best record in the NBA and Aldrdge is a huge reason for that record. His 24.7 PPG and 11.6 RPG are both better than the Clippers’ Blake Griffin’s averages. There is no reason that Griffin should be ahead of Aldridge on this list. What? You like his dunks? Great. This isn’t NBA Jam.
The Ugly
Kobe Bryant is named an All-Star for the 16th time despite only playing in six games this season. REALLY? REALLY? This selection alone shows why fans shouldn’t get a vote. Could you imagine if the Oscars were decided by the fans? “The award for Best Picture goes to….Twilight.” Awful. Even Kobe Bryant disagrees with his inclusion. Bryant said “With all due respect to the fans that voted me in, I certainly appreciate that, they know how much I appreciate that, but you got to do the right thing as well. My fans know you got to reward these young guys for the work that they’ve been putting in.”
Even if it is false modesty, the words mean something. Wake up, fans. Do your homework.
Kobe Bryant — due to injury — will not be playing in the All-Star Game.
Joshua Caudill is a writer for CraveOnline Sports, a surfing enthusiast, an unhealthy sports fanatic, and an expert on all things Patrick Swayze. You can follow him on https://twitter.com/JoshuaCaudill85or “like”CraveOnline Sports on Facebook.
Photo Credit: Getty
